The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

The CFIA takes food safety and labelling seriously. If you report a potential labelling issue, they may examine your product and record the lot/batch number on the package. This number identifies a specific plant (factory) and production date and time. The CFIA may visit the plant to inspect the facilities and the product made, according to the batch number. If a labelling error has occurred, the product may be recalled. Learn more on our “How to Report a Reaction” page.

As of 2012, new rules make labels easier to read. This means that any of the government’s priority allergens are to be clearly labeled on the product. For example, milk must now be labeled “milk” and not “casein”.

Canada encourages (but does not require) manufacturers to use Precautionary Statements such as “May Contain”. These statements are used voluntarily by some companies on pre-packaged food labels where a product may be at risk of unintentionally containing allergens due to cross-contamination with other products. “May Contain” statements are voluntary and added by the individual food company; however, if used they are legally required to be truthful and not misleading. If you are unsure whether a product may contain traces of an allergen, call the company to ask.

Keep in mind when you are travelling outside of Canada that labelling requirements differ from country to country.

Cross-contamination

Cross-contamination can happen when a small amount of a food allergen gets into another food accidentally, or when it is present in saliva, on a surface or on an object. This small amount of an allergen could cause an allergic reaction.

In food processing, cross-contamination can occur in the production of food. It may happen in a shared facility, through shared production lines or be passed on from suppliers. Since food labelling for “may contain” is voluntary in Canada, manufacturers are not required to state on their label whether a product may be cross-contaminated with an allergen.

If you are unsure about a product, contact the company to discuss whether cross-contamination may be an issue.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

The CFIA takes food safety and labelling seriously. If you report a potential labelling issue, they may examine your product and record the lot/batch number on the package. This number identifies a specific plant (factory) and production date and time. The CFIA may visit the plant to inspect the facilities and the product made, according to the batch number. If a labelling error has occurred, the product may be recalled. Learn more on our “How to Report a Reaction” page.